The percent of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches is often used as a measure   of children's economic well-being. Higher percentages mean more children live in low-income   families, and vice versa. (Northwest Area Foundation Indicator Website)

  It is valuable in the assessment of a community's well being to look at the number of people   struggling day-to-day for their survival, with such issues as food and housing insecurity and   transportaion barriers that limit self care and employment options. People focusing on   survival tend not to be contributing members of the community, which is a great loss of   human capital .